Time Synchronization Device for Multi-Profile PTP Domain Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time synchronization methods face challenges in seamlessly integrating devices across multiple time synchronization network domains using different Precision Time Protocol (PTP) profiles, due to varying verification mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A time synchronization method and device that run multiple PTP instances to connect to various time synchronization domains through multiple ports, obtaining a grandmaster clock, updating clock information, determining port roles, modifying clock attributes, and synchronizing timings across domains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If devices in different network domains use different PTP profiles to meet specific application requirements, then each domain can achieve optimized time synchronization for its specific needs, but devices across different domains cannot communicate effectively and verification mechanisms fail during cross-domain time synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a time gateway as an intermediary device between different PTP profile domains. The time gateway runs multiple PTP instances corresponding to different profiles (e.g., Power Profile, Telecom Profile, gPTP) and performs profile conversion and adaptation. This intermediary enables cross-domain time synchronization by translating between different profile requirements while maintaining verification mechanism compatibility, thus resolving the contradiction between specialized precision and general adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a time gateway integrates multiple PTP profiles to enable cross-domain synchronization, then different time synchronization domains can synchronize according to one grandmaster clock, but the system complexity increases due to multiple verification mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the verification mechanism handling by creating separate PTP instances for different profiles within the time gateway. Each PTP instance independently manages its own verification mechanisms according to its specific profile requirements. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple verification mechanisms in a modular fashion, reducing overall complexity while maintaining multi-profile integration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts profile parameters and verification mechanism configurations based on the specific domain and port requirements. The time gateway can switch between different PTP profiles and adjust verification parameters according to the connected domain, optimizing the balance between adaptability and complexity by only activating necessary verification mechanisms for each specific connection.
Data Source
AI summary
A time synchronization method used for a time synchronization device is provided. The time synchronization device runs a plurality of Precision Time Protocol (PTP) instances to connect to a plurality of time synchronization domains through a plurality of ports. The time synchronization method includes selecting a grandmaster (GM) clock from the plurality of time synchronization domains; updating clock information of the grandmaster clock; determining whether each of the plurality of ports is a time receiving port or a time transmitting port according to the grandmaster clock; modifying clock attributes of each of the plurality of PTP instances according to whether the corresponding port is the time receiving port or the time transmitting port; and synchronizing, by the plurality of PTP instances, timings of the plurality of time synchronization domains according to the grandmaster clock.